Soviet Soviet & Eastern Block Quiz - 2009

[Christophe]

Come on guys... It's easy !!

Ch.

[Christophe]

OK, first hint...

[Ferdinand]

Who am I ?

Georgi Ivanov Ivanov (Kakalov).

What did I do of famous ?

You were the first Bulgarian in space.

Why did I change my name ?

As soon as you entered the Soviet International Space Programme Intercosmos in 1978, you had to change your surname to Ivanov, because Kakalov occasionally had negative connotations in Russian.

Which most prestigious Soviet award did I get, and when ?

You became a Hero of the Soviet Union on 13 April 1979.

[Christophe]

Well done Auke !!! You're the winner !!!

Here you can read more about Georgi Ivanov :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgi_Ivanov

"Georgi Ivanov (Bulgarian: Георги Иванов) (born Georgi Kakalov, born July 2, 1940) was the first Bulgarian in space. He was a member of the National Assembly of Bulgaria in 1990.

Born in Lovech, Georgi Kakalov attended the Military Air-force School in Dolna Mitropolia. After completing the five-year program, he served in the Bulgarian National Army as a military pilot. A few years later he became an instructor and head of a division.

As soon as he entered the Soviet International Space Programme Intercosmos in 1978, he had to change his family name to Ivanov, because his original surname Kakalov occasionally had negative connotations in Russian. After intensive training, Ivanov was selected for the fourth mission under the Intercosmos program.

He, along with Soviet cosmonaut Nikolai Rukavishnikov, was launched into space as part of the Soyuz 33 mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome on April 10, 1979, at 17:34 (GMT). Though take-off was smooth, the mission was a disaster, with severe damage of the engine preventing docking in orbit to Salyut 6 orbital station as it was initially planned. A premature return to Earth became the only possible decision for Ivanov and Rukavishnikov. Due to some additional technical problems landing was difficult to endure — more than 9Gs. When Soyuz 33 finally landed, it was 320 km southeast of Dzhezkazgan. It completed 31 orbits, and was in space for 1 day, 23 hours and 1 minute.

Ivanov was awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union on April 13, 1979 [1] Georgi Ivanov earned a Ph.D. in space engineering. He was elected to the National Assembly and took part in the creation of the new democratic Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria.

Since 1993, Ivanov has been the executive director of Air Sofia Ltd.

Till 1982 Ivanov was married to Natalya Rousanova and they had one daughter, Ani (born 1967). Later they divorced. Now he is married to Lidia and they have one son, Ivan (born 1984). His hobbies include skiing, fishing and golf. Ivanov is a Member of the ASE — Association of the Space Explorers. He founded the Future in Space Foundation."

Your turn, now...

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christophe]

Time for a few stats :

Quiz 2009 :

* 34 questions asked,

* with 353 answers,

* and viewed more than 6,700 times.

Nb of good answers for the Quiz 2009 :

* 9 : Christophe

* 6 : Ilja (ilja559)

* 5 : Auke (Ferdinand)

* 3 : Alex (RedMaestro)

* 2 : Jim (JimZ) & Rick (Koopyetz)

* 1 : Bryan (Soviet), Christian (Zulus), Dan (Hauptman), Doc (Riley1965), Simon (SU1977) & Wild Card

Complete statistics since this Quiz has been launched (on 1 Nov. 2005) :

* 254 questions asked,

* with 3,132 answers,

* This quiz has been viewed more than 45,600 times.

* 47 Members of the Forum played, and 35 correctly answered at least 1 question :

Nb of good answers :

* 49 : Christophe

* 42 : Christian (Zulus)

* 17 : Frank (Knarf)

* 15 : Jim (JimZ)

* 14 : Auke (Ferdinand)

* 12 : Bryan (Soviet)

* 11 : Dan (Hauptman) & Marc (Lapa)

* 8 : Simon (Red Threat)

* 6 : Alex (RedMaestro), Belaruski, Carol I, Ed (Haynes), Ilja (ilja559) & Wild Card.

* 3 : Andreas (Alfred), Ivan (Piramida), Kim (Kimj) & Marco (marcotk).

* 2 : Chuck (in Oregon), Gerd (Becker), Jan (vatjan), Rick (Koopyetz) & Order of Victory.

* 1 : Brendan (ANZAC), Charles (Hunyadi), Darrell, Daredevil, Dave (Navy FCO), Doc (Riley1965), Dudeman, Eddie (Taz), Filip (Drugo), Rick (Stogieman), Simon (SU1977) & Steen (Ammentorp).

This is a great achievement. Thanks to all for your participation in this Quiz.

Now, let's play for the 255th question, Auke's... !!

Cheers.

Ch.

[Ferdinand]

There were four more Bulgarian HSU's. What were their names, when were they awarded the title, and why?

The first member to answer all questions correctly, wins. :cheers:

[Christophe]

Here is an updated version of the Summary for the Quiz 2009.

Summary #2

Here are all the topics dealt through our questions and answers of this little Quiz.

Are shown below :

* Subject / question dealt - Number of the post where has been asked the question.

Personalities (Awards)

* USSR - Mikhail Mukhonov - #194

* USSR - Marshal Nikolai Voronov - #213

* USSR - 4 Generals & War prestigious orders - #35

* USSR - Soviet Commanders & the Order of Victory - #28

Personalities (Identification)

* Bulgaria - Georgi Ivanov - #349

* DDR - Gunther Schabowski - #316

* France - Jean-Loup Chrétien - #343

* USA - Robert Hanssen - #41

* USSR - Rudolf Abel - #172

* USSR - Flegont Bassin - #60

* USSR - Mikhail Gorbachev - #164

* USSR - Nikolay Harlamov - #150

* USSR - Timofei Khryukin - #320

* USSR - Major Grigorii Kravchenko - #326

* USSR - Lydia Livyak + Marina Raskova - #336

* USSR - Major general Aleksandr Lizyukov - #107

* USSR - Kiril Meretskov - #254

* USSR - Pavlik Morozov - #243

* USSR - Lidia Pereprygina - #259

* USSR - Yevgeny Petrov - #80

* USSR - Nikolai Polikarpov - #115

* USSR - Roman Rudenko - #5

* USSR - Zurab Tsereteli - #46

* USSR - Marshal Sergei Varentsov - #20

Historical events

* 1918 - North Russia Campaign - #346

* 1945 - Berlin sectors - #284

* 1968 - USS Pueblo and North Korea - #85

* 2002 - Accident in Baikonur - #208

Architecture / sites

* Berlin - Berlin Wall - #308

* Chernobyl - Helicopters cemetary - #187

* Moscow - Sheremetyevo 1 airport - #128

Aircraft, weapons, military equipment...

* Ilyushin Il-80 Maxdome - #176

Other topics

* Ft Stalin - #99

* "I'm a thief" sailor - #119

Ch.

Edited December 13, 2009 by Christophe

[Christophe]

There were four more Bulgarian HSU's. What were their names, when were they awarded the title, and why?

The first member to answer all questions correctly, wins.

Sorry Auke,

I did not realise you had posted a new challenge.

For all, please, here is Auke's question.

Ch.

[Christophe]

OK, this one is for me, for my 50th victory in the Quiz :

* Colonel Volkan S Goranov, (Zachariev, Z.S.).

Awarded on 31/12/1936. SN #22.

Awarded for courage and heroism in Battle, during the Civil War in Spain.

* General Vladimir Stoyanov-Zayimov.

Awarded on 30/5/1972. SN #?

Awarded because in 1942, he was arrested with 40 persons for hostile propaganda and contacts with the Soviet Embassy in Sofia, while the German army was stationed in Bulgaria. Zaimov was put on trial and executed on June 1, 1942. He became Hero of the Soviet Union in 1972. Bulgaria promoted him colonel general posthumously.

* President Todor Zhivkov.

Awarded on 31/5/1977. SN #11281

President of Bulgaria - 1971-1989.

* Lieutenant Colonel Aleksandr Panayatov Aleksandrov, cosmonaut.

Awarded on 17/6/1988. SN #11578

Awarded following the Soyuz TM-5 mission - 07 June 1988 Assignment: Prime Crew. Flight Time: 9.84 days.

And, indeed the 5th one is Georgi Ivanov, cosmonaut.

Am i right ?

Ch.

[Ferdinand]

Of course that is 100% correct! Congratulations on your 50th 'victory', Christophe!

Your turn, once again. :beer:

[Christophe]

Thanks Auke. Some of my friends in Moscow are already celebrating it...

Ch.

[Christophe]

Question #256

Here is an easy one :

1. To whom belongs this rack of ribbons ?

2. There is a mistake in it, which one ?

The "mistake" is probably the reason why this "fruit salad" is part of my collection... Otherwise, it should be in a Museum.

Good hunt and good luck.

Ch.

Pic : © Christophe – ChR Collection

[paul wood]

Question #256

Here is an easy one :

1. To whom belongs this rack of ribbons ?

2. There is a mistake in it, which one ?

The "mistake" is probably the reason why this "fruit salad" is part of my collection... Otherwise, it should be in a Museum.

Good hunt and good luck.

Ch.

Not L. I. Brehznev

Paul

Pic : © Christophe – ChR Collection

[Christophe]

Hi Paul,

Welcome to the Quiz.

You wrote :

"

Not L. I. Brehznev

Paul

"

I'm not sure to fully understand your answer. Do you think it's Brezhnev or not ?

Second point, the winner will be the first to answer both question. And question 2 is the most difficult part...

Good hunt and good luck !!

Cheers.

Ch.

[paul wood]

Hi Paul,

Welcome to the Quiz.

You wrote :

"

Not L. I. Brehznev

Paul

"

I'm not sure to fully understand your answer. Do you think it's Brezhnev or not ?

Second point, the winner will be the first to answer both question. And question 2 is the most difficult part...

I think it might be Brezhnev. He received the Order of Victory and awarded himself a truckload of other things.

Paul

Good hunt and good luck !!

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christophe]

To all,

OK, good guess from Paul. It's Brezhnev's ribbon rack.

But, what is the mistake ?

Cheers.

Ch.

[Christophe]

So, no one wants to try finding the mistake in this ribbon rack ?

Ch.

PS : Paul, if you find it, or no one else finds it before you; you will be the winner...

[paul wood]

So, no one wants to try finding the mistake in this ribbon rack ?

Ch.

PS : Paul, if you find it, or no one else finds it before you; you will be the winner...

The ribbon for the Jubilee Medal for the 20th Anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War is the wrong way round.

Paul

[Christophe]

No, it is correct. It is in the PMD that there has been an inversion.

Other suggestion ?

Ch.

[Ferdinand]

I found several mistakes

I don't know if I'm allowed to answer the question, but the class of a certain award is wrong, the order of precedence is incorrect and a couple of awards are missing.

[Christophe]

I don't know if I'm allowed to answer the question, but the class of a certain award is wrong,

Hi Auke,

You're allowed to answer, as any of us...

" the class of a certain award is wrong" is exactly what I am waiting for. Easy, no ?

Cheers.

Ch.

[Ferdinand]

All right then;

- His Order of Bogdan Khmelnitsky should be 2nd Class, not 1st Class.

- Brezhnev never received the Medal for Distinguished Service in Guarding the State Border of the USSR.

- The ribbons for his Medals for Valiant Labor in the GPW, Medal for Restoration of the Black Metallurgical Enterprises, 250 years Leningrad, and 1500 years Kiev are missing.

And don't get me started on the foreign awards... ;)

[Christophe]

Hi Auke,

This is an excellent answer. You're the winner !!!!

Your turn, now...

Cheers.

Ch.

[Ferdinand]

I will be busy for the following couple of days, so I suggest that Paul asks the next question.

[Christophe]

Time for a few stats :

Quiz 2009 :

* 36 questions asked,

* with 373 answers,

* and viewed more than 6,900 times.

Nb of good answers for the Quiz 2009 :

* 10 : Christophe

* 6 : Auke (Ferdinand) & Ilja (ilja559)

* 3 : Alex (RedMaestro)

* 2 : Jim (JimZ) & Rick (Koopyetz)

* 1 : Bryan (Soviet), Christian (Zulus), Dan (Hauptman), Doc (Riley1965), Simon (SU1977) & Wild Card

Complete statistics since this Quiz has been launched (on 1 Nov. 2005) :

* 256 questions asked,

* with 3,152 answers,

* This quiz has been viewed more than 45,800 times.

* 48 Members of the Forum played, and 35 correctly answered at least 1 question :

Nb of good answers :

* 50 : Christophe

* 42 : Christian (Zulus)

* 17 : Frank (Knarf)

* 15 : Auke (Ferdinand) & Jim (JimZ)

* 12 : Bryan (Soviet)

* 11 : Dan (Hauptman) & Marc (Lapa)

* 8 : Simon (Red Threat)

* 6 : Alex (RedMaestro), Belaruski, Carol I, Ed (Haynes), Ilja (ilja559) & Wild Card.

* 3 : Andreas (Alfred), Ivan (Piramida), Kim (Kimj) & Marco (marcotk).

* 2 : Chuck (in Oregon), Gerd (Becker), Jan (vatjan), Rick (Koopyetz) & Order of Victory.

* 1 : Brendan (ANZAC), Charles (Hunyadi), Darrell, Daredevil, Dave (Navy FCO), Doc (Riley1965), Dudeman, Eddie (Taz), Filip (Drugo), Rick (Stogieman), Simon (SU1977) & Steen (Ammentorp).

This is a great achievement. Thanks to all for your participation in this Quiz.

Now, let's play for the 257th question... !!

Cheers.

Ch.